Mowbray relishing return of action

21 November 2009 10:46
The Hoops' last defeat at Tannadice was a 2-1 loss in the SPL in August 1999.[LNB]After drawing 3-3 at Falkirk in their last outing a fortnight ago the Parkhead boss is hoping to get back on track at a happy hunting ground.[LNB]Asked about Celtic's record at Tannadice, Mowbray said: "It's a statistic - let's hope it runs another 10 years![LNB]"We are looking forward to getting back into league action again.[LNB]"Sunday can't come quick enough and we are ready to go, so let's hope we find a level of consistency over the next three or four months."[LNB]Mowbray has a few injury concerns but will not allow that to distract attention from his side's bid to retain their place at the top of the SPL.[LNB]The former Hibernian and West Brom boss said: "It's as reported, we have one or two people out, but we just get on with it - no excuses.[LNB]"Scott Brown, Artur Boruc and Shaun Maloney are injured, Stephen McManus is suspended and Glenn Loovens trained today, so we will wait and see how he is."[LNB]If Loovens does not recover from his groin injury, it could well mean a debut for 18-year-old summer signing from Stockport, Josh Thompson.[LNB]When asked if his young stopper would be ready, Mowbray responded: "He'll have to be!"[LNB]United keeper Nicky Weaver admits he used to just blindly put Celtic and Rangers as bankers on his coupon every week.[LNB]But after getting a first-hand taste of Scottish football he now believes the day when someone outside the Old Firm wins the SPL title is edging closer to reality.[LNB]Weaver, who joined Dundee United on a short-term deal until January to put himself in the shop window, will return to England early next year full of praise for the Premier League.[LNB]He said: "From the outside looking in, people in England took notice of the Rangers nine-in-a-row side because they had a lot of English players.[LNB]"And obviously Celtic were big news too when they had the likes of Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton.[LNB]"Like most folk down south you just put them on your coupon every week because you expected them to win.[LNB]"But it's not like that now and from what I've seen up here the gap between the Old Firm and the other clubs isn't what it used to be.[LNB]"In fact, I don't think it's impossible to think that someone other than Celtic or Rangers could win the title in the next few years.[LNB]"A while back that was impossible but I think that although they will always have more resources than everyone else, someone could come through there and do it.[LNB]"At United we're a bit away from doing that right now but we're making progress and there are other teams - such as Hibs for example - who are also moving in the right direction."[LNB]Although his stay at Tannadice is counting down to a matter of weeks, Weaver has experienced enough in the game to know being patient will pay off.[LNB]He said: "I've still got plenty of time to get things sorted out.[LNB]"January is another six weeks away and while that's not a long time, in football it is.[LNB]"All it needs is someone to get injured or transferred elsewhere and a chance will open up again.[LNB]"I won't rush into it. I've been playing regularly and hopefully that has made people take notice, so we'll see what happens."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk